Adjusting connector for clotheslines



Au 16, 1949. w. E. 'wHlTE 2,478,994

ADJUSTING CONNECTOR FOR CLOTHESLINES Filed Sept. 9, 1947 I v 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 16, 1949. H E 2,478,994

ADJUSTING CONNECTOR FOR CLOTHESLINES Filed Sept. 9, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /2 Z4 Z3 Z5 a0 26 swoon W0 0 Patented Aug. 16, 1949 ADJUSTING CONNECTOR FOR CLOTHE SLINES Warren White, Forest Hanan. Y. 7

Application September'9, 1947, SerialNo. 772,997

4 Claims.

My invention relate to an adjustin connector for clotheslines,.andthe like, Y

An importantrobj ect of the invention-is toprovide an adjusting. connector-for clotheslines, the use of which will eliminate the tieing of knots in the clothesline, each time it is tightened or loosened,

A fur'therobject is to provide aclothesline connector which is positive inaction, not permitting,

a tightened clothesline to slip, and having means to.engagethe-clothesline without cutting or weakening the same.

A still. further object is to provide a device of the above mentioned class, which is simple and durable in'design, and quite inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the invention i will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of, this application, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a clothesline connector embodying my invention, and showing the associated clothesline, Figure 2 is an enlarged plan View of the same,

Figur 3 is a central vertical longitudinal section taken on line 3.3. of Figure 2,

Figure 4' is. a horizontal section taken on line 44 of Figure 3,

Figure, 5 is a transverse vertical section taken on line 55 of Figure 3, v

Figure 6 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on line li-Bof. Figure 3,

Figure '7 is a perspective View of a clamping member, removed, and 7 Figure 8 is a vertical detail section clothesline tensio-ning roller.

In the drawings, where for the purpose of i1- lustration is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral l0 designates the outer casing of the clothesline connector. This casing Ill is elongated, and rectangular in trans-.- verse cross section; The casing H3 includes a bottom H, sides 42, an end l3, and a partial top through a clamping arm 23 is in the shape of an inverted' nearits. longitudinal center with a transverse 'openingonslot l5, preferably extending for the fullwidth of the casing. The transverseedges of V the slot I5 are rolled to provide roundedbeads l5, toprevent cuttin a clothesline section ll, which ispassed through the slot. The bottom .l-l-also has an opening. iii, to. receive the end. of the clothesline section ll, which is knottcd as'at Hi. The knot i9 is disposed inside the casing 19, and is larger thanthe opening, I 9, so that it cannot be pulled through such opening. The casing end l3 has a central opening 20, like the opening l8, and the end of a second'clothesline section 2| ispassed' through this opening and knotted within the casing, as at 22. The knot. 22-. is larger than the opening 29, so that it cannot be pulled through.

such opening. I

Disposed between'the easing sides i2, adjacent to the open top and end portion of the casing is a: pivoted clamping member or arrn 23.1 This U, in transverse cross section, and includes a top 24, and sides 25, pivotally connected to the casing sides I2, near their curved ends, by means of; pins 26, or the like. The sides 25 incline upward ly toward the top 24, at one end, and are curved correspondingly to the casing sides l2 at their opposite ends. The pivoted clamping arm 23 is open, longitudinally, but further'comprises a flat bottom or clamping foot 21, integral with the sides 25, and adjacent to their lower edges. The transverse edges of the clamping foot 2'!- are rolled to provide rounded beads 28, which cannot cut the clothesline. The pivot pins 26 are preferably in-approximate horizontalalignment withthe clamping footZl, Figure, 3. Rota'tablymounted upon a shaft 29, rigidly secured to the sides 25,,

and extending laterally between such sides, is,. a- 'roller 30. The ends of the shaft29- are flush. with the'outer faces of the sides 25, so as not to interfere with the swinging oft-he arm 23;. The roller 0 is located substantiallydirectly over the head 28 which is nearest the open end of the'outer cas- [4. The top l4 extends longitudinally of the cas ing for a short distance from the end 13, and is connected to such end and to the sides I2 to form a box like structure. The remainder of the top of the casing is open, beyond the inner edge of the top l4, and the other end of the casing is also open. The sides l2 are preferably curved at the open end of the casing as shown in Figures 1 and 3. The bottom II of the casing is provided A rubber pad or strip 3! is inounted upon the. casing bottom H; beneaththe clamping foot 21,;-

top 24 may be provided with one or more lateral corrugations 35, to receive the top of the U-shaped clamp 34, when the same is in the clamping position, Figure 3.

The arm 23 is provided at its top with a lateral projection or handle 36, preferably stamped out of the adjacent side 25, see Figure '7. This handle facilitates opening and closin the clamping arm 23.

It is preferred that the casing l and clamping arm 23 be fabricated as sheet metal stampings, and the parts are well adapted to be made as such.

In use, the sections of clothesline are attached to the outer casing I0, as shown and described. The clothesline section I! is passed through the slot I6, beneath the clamping foot 21, and up over the roller 30, as shown in Figure 3. The clamping arm may be swung upwardly to its open position, where it does not clamp the clothesline. The slack may be removed from the clothesline section I! downwardly through the slot l5, Figure 3, and forming the loop ll. When the line is taut, the arm 23 is swung to the closed or clamping position, Figure 3. The clamping foot 21 clamps the clothesline against the rubber pad 3|, in tight clamping engagement, so that the clothesline cannot slip. The arrangement of the clothesline over the roller 30 further helps to prevent slipping; and when the arm 23 is swung closed, the roller 30 gives an added tension to the clothesline section ll, exteriorly of the device. The clamp 34 looks the arm 23 in the clamping position.

It should be noted that there are no sharp edges or knurled wheels, and the like to engage the clothesline, and damage the same. The device is positive in its clamping action, and very useful for the desired purpose.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention, herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention, or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. An adjusting connector for clotheslines, comprising an outer casing open at its top and including an end having an opening and a bottom having openings therein, a clamping arm arranged within the outer casing and pivotally connected therewith to swing from an open to a closed position, such clamping arm including a presser foot having its edges rounded and adapted to engage upon the clothesline to clamp the same against the bottom of the casing when the arm is in the closed position, a roller mounted upon the arm above the presser foot for engaging the clothesline to tighten the same when the arm is swung to the closed position, and means to secure the arm in the closed position, the arrangement being such that the end of one clothesline is fastened within the opening in the end of the casing, and a second clothesline is fastened Within one opening in the bottom and passed through the other bottom opening and beneath the presser 4 foot and over the roller, such second clothesline being adjustable while the arm is in the open position.

2. An adjusting connector for clotheslines, comprising an outer casing open at its top and at one end and including sides, an end having an opening, and a bottom having an opening and a slot provided with rounded edges, a friction element mounted upon the casing bottom, a U- shaped clamping arm disposed between the casing sides adjacent to its open top and open end and pivotally connected with the casing sides near its bottom and open end, said clamping arm including a lower flat clamping foot having rounded transverse edges, said foot being arranged near and above the friction element when the arm is in a clamping position, a transverse roller mounted within the U-shaped clamping arm and disposed above the foot, and a pivoted clamp carried by the casing near one end of the clamping arm to engage over the arm and lock the same in the clamping position.

3. An adjusting connector for clothesline sections comprising an outer U-shaped casing open at the top and one end, means for connecting the adjacent ends of said clothesline sections to said outer casing, an inverted U-shaped clamping arm, a pivot pin pivotally connecting said clamping arm to said outer casing at said one end, a presser foot on said clamping arm for clamping one of said clothesline sections within said casing, a transverse roller in said clamping arm above and inwardly of said pivot pin over which the clothesline section under said presser foot is adapted to be engaged, and means for securing said clamping arm in clothesline clamping position in said casing.

4. An adjusting connector for a pair of clothesline sections comprising an outer member, means for securing an end of one of said clothesline sections to said outer member, a clamping arm, a pivot pin at one end of said member engaging said clamping arm for swinging movement longitudinally thereof, a presser foot on said clamping arm adjacent said pivot pin for clamping an end of the other clothesline section on said outer member, a transverse member across said clamping arm above and inwardly of said pivot pin and the outer end of said presser foot, over which said other clothesline section is adapted to be engaged, and means carried by said outer member engageable with said clamping arm for locking said clamping arm and said presser foot in clamping position.

WARREN E. WHITE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,250,876 Hicks Dec. 18, 1917 1,498,699 Smith June 24,1924 1,522,400 Wagenbrenner Jan. 6, 1925 1,646,336 Alfano et a1 Oct. 18, 1927 1,913,032 Krause June 6,1933 

